Workshop Speakers
Workshop Speakers
Dr Michelle Carrihill
Michelle Carrihill is a paediatrician and endocrinologist, caring for children, adolescents and youth living with Type 1 diabetes, in both government and private sectors. She advocates for individualised diabetes care, with attention to resource-appropriate, evidence-based quality health care provision. She is long-term supporter of outreach and education of health care providers, teachers and caregivers.
Dr Marli Conradie-Smit
Marli Conradie-Smit is Head of Endocrinology at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital. She is primarily a practicing clinician, with involvement in research, especially related to the field of obesity. She is a member of the Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism of SA (SEMDSA) and Execute committee member of the SA Metabolic Medicine and Surgery Society (SAMMSS). She is involved in drafting guidelines and policies at a national level. She is actively involved in teaching, learning and assessment activities at a local and national level.
Prof Joel Dave
A/Prof Dave has been Head of the Division of Endocrinology since 01 September 2018. He obtained his primary medical degree (MBChB) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 1991. He received his PhD (entitled: “Isolation of proteases from Mycobacterium tuberculosis”) from UCT in 2000 and completed his specialist training in Internal Medicine in 2004 and his sub-specialist training in Endocrinology in 2006. He then spent 7 years in private practice but during this time he remained actively involved in research, teaching/examining of undergraduate and postgraduate students and attending endocrine clinics in the Division of Endocrinology. His main research interests have centred round the metabolic complications of HIV-infection and anti-retroviral therapy as well as general endocrine-related disorders in HIV-infected patients. He returned to full-time academic medicine in the Division of Endocrinology in September 2016. He publishes regularly in international journals, supervises doctoral and masters students, has been on a number of national and international pharmaceutical advisory boards, has been integrally involved in the development of national guidelines (type 2 diabetes, insulin pump therapy, thyroid disease), has been the Chairperson of the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA), Chairperson of the Association of Clinical Endocrinologists of South Africa (ACE-SA) and is the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee for the International Congress of Endocrinology (ICE) to be held in Cape Town in 2018.
Ms Bridget McNulty
Bridget McNulty is a writer and co-founder of Sweet Life, South Africa’s largest online diabetes community. She lives in Cape Town, South Africa, with her husband, son, and daughter, and loves nothing more than a cup of tea and a good book—preferably somewhere green and lovely. Her website is a space where she writes about things she finds inspiring, ideas she’s grappling with, and the quest for meaning in everyday life. She hopes visitors find a slice of joy while they are there. Most of her daily work is tied up with Sweet Life, the NPO/PBO she co-founded. Sweet Life is a community that informs, inspires, and connects people with diabetes in South Africa. It offers reliable advice on everything one needs to know about the condition, supports those living with it, and shares the message that having diabetes doesn’t mean one can’t live a happy, healthy life.
Dr Rozeena Nordien
Dr Rozeena Nordien is a committed physician with extensive experience across various medical fields, including endocrinology and internal medicine. She has honed her skills working alongside renowned physicians, striving for excellence in patient care, academia, and research. While her primary focus lies in endocrinology, she actively contributes to general medicine and is deeply engaged in academia. Her dedication to continual learning and skill development fuels her passion for teaching and clinical advancement.
Dr Elmo Pretorius
Elmo Pretorius is an endocrinologist based at Mediclinic Vergelegen in Somerset West. A Stellenbosch University alumnus, he specialises in endocrine and metabolic disease, with a deep-seated interest in the evolving field of cardiometabolic medicine. He also continues to work as a hospital physician in general internal medicine. He is a firm believer that the best medicine often happens outside the clinic and is passionate about empowering patients to reclaim their well-being through practical, sustainable lifestyle shifts. When not practicing medicine, you will likely find him trail running, navigating a padel court, or perfecting his dad-cook status at home with a quiet glass of local wine.
Dr Amith Ramcharan
Dr Amith Ramcharan is a consultant paediatric endocrinologist at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town. His areas of subspecialty interests include diabetes technology, growth and pubertal disorders, and adolescent endocrine health. He completed his advanced training in metabolic medicine at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, where he developed expertise in managing rare and complex metabolic conditions. He currently serves as the convener for year five paediatric medicine and plays an active role in medical education as a teacher and examiner at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Dr Amith Ramcharan is committed to providing holistic, evidence-based care and remains engaged in advancing clinical practice through teaching, mentorship, and ongoing professional development.
Prof Peter Raubenhaimer
Associate Professor Peter Raubenheimer is the Head of the Division of General Internal Medicine at UCT and Groote Schuur hospital and a consultant in the Division of Endocrinology. He received his medical degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, completed Internal Medicine Fellowship training at Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT in 1999 and subspecialist training in Endocrinology at UCT and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. He then completed a laboratory and clinical research fellowship in Endocrinology at the University of Edinburgh, before returning back to South Africa in 2006. He has a broad interest in all academic activities related to Internal Medicine and Endocrinology – clinical, teaching and research. He convened the UCT registrar training programme for 10 years and is involved at College level , where he is the current secretary of the College of Physicians of South Africa, with curriculum development and assessment of specialist and subspecialist training. He was on the International Advisory Committee for CanMEDS. He is on the EXCO of the Society of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa ( SEMDSA) and contributes to the development of National Practice Guidelines. His research interests in Endocrinology focuses on diabetes care and he has been involved in both investigator-initiated and multicentre industry-sponsored trials in diabetes.
Prof Ian Ross
Associate Professor Ian Ross obtained his primary medical degree at the University of Stellenbosch in 1992 and specialised in Internal Medicine 2000 with the Fellow of the College of Physicians (South Africa) and super-specialised in Endocrinology in 2002. He received his PhD entitled: The aetiopathogenesis, cardiovascular and metabolic complications and pharmacogenomics of Addison’s disease in South Africa. He received his FRCP from London and is a full-time consultant in the Division of Endocrinology & Diabetic Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town, attached to Groote Schuur hospital. He has active research groups involving Addison’s disease and thyroid cancer and is currently supervising four PhD and one Master’s student. He holds a number of research grants. He publishes actively, has presented at multiple international endocrine meetings and currently serves on the executive committee of the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA).
Prof Zane Stevens
Specialist Physician and Endocrinologist at Cape Institute of Endocrinology. Currently in endocrine private practice at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, Cape Town, with a specific interest in diabetes, thyroid disease and osteoporosis. Previous Associate consultant/lecturer in the Division of Endocrinology at Stellenbosch University involved in undergraduate and postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology 2014-2018. Member of the task force for creating and publishing South African Hypothyroidism guidelines 2015. Co-author of the Insulin chapter in the 2017 SEMDSA guidelines for the management of type 2 DM. Executive council member of the South African National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOFSA). Specific interest in Fracture Liaison Services (FLS). South African Colleges of Medicine examiner for the sub specialization in Endocrinology & Metabolism (FCP). Founding member of the Cape Thyroid Forum MDT for thyroid cancers and combined structural/functional thyroid disease. Have served on a number of local and international advisory boards for various pharmaceutical companies. Speaker/lecturer regularly at CME events in the areas of diabetes, thyroid disease and osteoporosis.
Dr Bill Toet
Dr Bill Toet is a Cape Town-based Consultant Endocrinologist with over 35 years of medical experience. Following his sub-specialty training at Groote Schuur Hospital, he served as a part-time consultant and honorary staff member at the University of Cape Town (UCT) from 2009 to 2017. Between 2011 and 2020, Dr. Toet led a successful private practice at Constantiaberg Mediclinic, while simultaneously applying his MBA expertise to the development of managed healthcare beneficiary programs. His clinical work focuses on the management of hyperthyroidism and the integration of advanced pharmacological agents in modern diabetes care.